Combined counter stiffener and arch support



JunelO, 1930. F. E.-wl| Lls COMBINED COUNTER STIFFENER AND ARCH SUPPORT Filed Feb. 4, 1928 Patented .lune 10, 1930 PATE orrici:

FRANK E. IVIIJIIS, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WALTER Ii. COHRS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS COMBINED COUNTER STIFFENER AND ARCI-I SUPPORT Application led February 4, 1928.

This invention relates to counter stiifening devices for slices, and more particularly to a combined counter stidener and arch support.

The device of my invention is intended to s provide acounter stiener and to effectively support the arch of the foot at both sides thereof in such manner as to strengthen and support the ligaments and tissues between the heel and the ball of the foot, as well as lo support the cuneiform bone. This device is formed of leather molded in rights and lofts and, due to its close contact with the foot is subject to the action of perspiration from the foot. In warm weather the effect of perspira- Lli tion on a device ofthis character is particularly noticeable. lt is the practice, in all devices of this character with which I am familiar, to dispose the flesh side of the leather at the inner face of the stiffener. 2() This is objectionable as the flesh side of the leather used is fibrous and highly absorbent and the inner surface of the device soon becomes saturated with perspiration, in warm weather especially, which it retains. Upon removal of the shoe the stiifener dries and, as it dries, the inner portion thereof tends to shrink or draw together. This causes the upper portion of the stiffener to curl inwardly of the shoe,'rendering,l it difficult to replace the shoe upon the foot. There is also the possibility of crushing` the inwardly turned portion of the counter, under such condition, when inserting,` the foot into the shoe and permanently impairing the appear ance of the shoe.

l have found that the above referred to inward curling of the upper edge portion of the counter stifener is due to the fact that the flesh side of the leather is directed inwardly and, due to its absorbent nature, quickly becomes saturated with and retains perspiration from the foot. By properly constructing the stiffener this objection can be avoided. In accordance with my invention I forni the stiifener of leather, as heretofore, but instead of having the flesh side of the leather at the inner face of the stiffener, as is the present practice, I dispose the flesh side at the outer surface of the stifl'ener and the hair or grain side of the leather at the Serial No. 251,810.

inner side of the stiffener. The grain side of the leather is relatively non-fibrous and non-absorbent and, therefore, the inner surface of the stiffener does not absorb and ret'ain perspiration from the foot to an apprei ciable extent. As a result, when the stiifener dries after removal of the shoe from the foot, there is no tendency to curl inwardly of. the upper portion of the device. In its broader aspect my invention consists in providing a counter stiffener having,l an inner portion or surface which is relatively non-absorbent and an outer portion or surface which is relatively highly absorbent. In the case of eX- cessive perspiring of the foot, the perspirationwill pass through the inner relatively non-absorbent surface of the stiffener and will be absorbed by the relatively highly absorbent outer surface thereof. Under such conditions, upon drying of the stiffener any tendency of the upper portion thereof to curl inwardly is counteracted by the tendency of the upper portion of the stiffener to curl outwardly due to the greater moisture content of the outer portion or surface of the stiff'ener and the natural tendency of this portion of the stiffener to shrink and turn outwardly at its upper edge portion as it dries. It will thus be seen that, by constructing the stifl'ener with a relatively nonabsorbent inner surface and a relatively highly absorbent outer surface I prevent inward curling of the upper portion of the stiffener assuring that the appearance of the shoe is not impaired and facilitating replac- 8 ing of the shoe upon the foot after removal thereof. Further objects and advantages will appear from the detail description.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective side view, partly broken away and in section of an Oxford shoe showing; my invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the heel portion of the shoe, the heel being shown in elevation, showing a counter stiffener constructed in accordance with my `invent-ion applied;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view through the heel portion of the shoe, showing a counter stiifener of the present type as applied;

Fig. t is a perspective side view of a counter stiifener constructed in accordance Vwith my invention;

Fig. 5 is a plan View of a blank from which my counter stiiiener is formed.

My Acounter stiffener, designated in it-s entirety by 1, is shown as used in connection with a shoe of what is known as the Oxford type. The shoe includes an upper 2, an outer sole 3, a heel 4, and an inner lining 5, as well as an inner sole 6. The counter stiifener and arch support device 1 is formed of thick leather, preferably sole leather, and has its edge portion skived, the device thus formed having a thickened central portion. At its lower edge the stifener 1 is provided with an inwardly turned portion or flange G which is sewed between the inner andthe outer soles of the shoe, thus securing the stiffener in position. Also, as will be noted more clearly from Figs. 1 and 2, the stiener is disposed between the upper 2 of the shoe and inner lining 5. y

The stiii'ener 1 is of proper shape and size to extend from the first metatarsal bone of the large toe joint back around the heel and up to the fifth metatarsal bone at the little toe joint. It also extends forwardly beyond the cuboid bone on the outer side of the tarsus of the foot-,and the scaphoid bone of the inner side of the tarsus, being of a height Ato extend above such bone. This device grips the arch of the foot at opposite sides thereof in such manner as to effectively support the ligaments and the bones in the arch without gripping the foot too tightly. This serves to strengthen the arch by compacting the ligaments, tissues and bones thereof and keeps the weight of the body back of the toe joint or ball of the foot while allowing perfect freedom' of motion of the joints in the fore part of the foot.

Devices ofthe general type above described are known in the art. It is the accepted prac-V tice, however, in constructing such devices to dispose the iiesh side of the leather inwardly and vthe hair or grain side outwardly. As a result of this arrangement, after the shoe has been in use but a short time, the upper portion of the stiffener curls inwardly, as above noted, and with the disadvantages pointed out. kThis is particularly true in a device such as that Aillustrated and described which extends about the greaterV portion of the foot and in intimate contact therewith, though it is also true of leather counter stiii'eners of usual type which are not ,extended yalong the sides of the foot. I have found that this inward `curling .of the upper portion of the counter vstiener can be avoided by disposing the grain side .of the leather inward-ly and the iiesh side outwardly. In accordance with my invention thestiffener 1, which is shaped from a sui-table blank, such as that illustrated in Fig. 5, is formed of leather, the grain side 1a of the leather forming the inner face of the stiifener and the flesh side 1b forming the outer face thereof. For purposes of comarison I have illustrated in Fiff. 3 a stiifener 7 formed of leather in accordance with the present practice with the flesh side 7;L directed inwardly and the grain side 7b disposed outwardly, this stiffener being shown as applied to a shoe of 'known construction, i

In use, the relatively highly porous inner face 'l'a of the stiffener 7 absorbs and retains perspiration from the foot and when the shoe is removed the stiener 7, upon drying thereof,

tends to shrink or contract throughout its inner portion of the stiifener and, as a result,

when the stiffener dries it does not curl downwardly and inwardly at the upper portion thereof as in the present form of stiffener. There is, therefore,from a practical standpoint a very decided advantage in constructing the stiener of leather with the grain side thereof directed inwardly and the flesh side directed outwardly.

As stated, stieners constructed in accordance with my invention are molded in lefts ',f

and rights. This is advantageous, as the device is pre-formed to lit accurately the contour of the foot without` binding or cha'fing and acts to best advantage to support the arch in the manner stated.

IWhat I claim is A counter stiflfener for shoes comprising a piece of leather having a grain side and a flesh side and being formed to it the foot of the wearer, and having the grain side disposed inwardly'so as to face the foot of the wearer.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 28th day of January, 1928.

FRANK E. WILLIS. 

